Phospholipase D-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine occurs with P-O bond cleavage

Mammalian phospholipase D has been implicated in signal-transduction mechanisms, most recently in association with stimuli that enhance phosphatidylcholine (PC) turnover. It was previously unknown whether hydrolysis of PC by phospholipase D proceeds via P-O or C-O bond cleavage. Commercially available phospholipase D isolated from Streptomyces chromofuscus was used to hydrolyse distearoyl phosphatidylcholine (PC) in a detergent-containing buffer consisting of 90% 18O-water. The product of hydrolysis, phosphatidic acid (PA), was purified by thin-layer chromatography and analyzed using californium-252 plasma desorption mass spectrometry. An increase of two mass units was observed, compared to a distearoyl PA control, consistent with a reaction mechanism involving cleavage of the P-O bond.